2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid Sedan

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Sedan

2.5L 4-cyl. hybrid engine
Continuously variable transmission
Up to 43 cty/39 hwy mpg
Bluetooth
iPod input
Side/Curtain Airbags
Stability Control
Traction Control
MSRP from $25,900

What's New for 2012

The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid is fully redesigned.

Introduction

Can the most popular family sedan in America afford to take a risk? Not likely. The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid doesn't aim to find out, either. Sure, the seventh generation of Toyota's bread-and-butter sedan shows a sharper look, including a more aggressive front grille and side profile. Tougher, more angular lines ring the exterior. There's even lip service paid to sporty handling, an effort to woo buyers who've already written off Toyota as the New Old Buick.

No, the new Camry isn't too different from the last one. And that's not a bad thing. For one thing, the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers an improved version of last year's engine: a respectably powerful 2.5-liter four-cylinder that, combined with the electric drive motor produces a total of 200 horsepower. An improved regenerative braking system that converts more braking energy into electricity also helps the new Camry Hybrid achieve an EPA-estimated 41 mpg in combined driving, and a substantial 10 mpg gain in city driving.

Suspension improvements have also enlivened the Camry Hybrid's handling dynamics. That's not to say the new hybrid is particularly sporty, but it does infuse slightly more enthusiasm into a rock-solid legacy of cushy, comfortable ride quality.

The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers a more refined hybrid system than the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and essentially matches the Ford Fusion Hybrid for best-in-class fuel economy. We'll know more once we obtain a Camry Hybrid for full evaluation. Still, the improved formula for 2012 should make this sedan a solid, blue-chip choice as a family car.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Sedan

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Sedan

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE Sedan

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Sedan

The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid is offered in LE and XLE trim levels. The LE features 16-inch steel wheels, auto headlights, keyless entry/ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, power accessories, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth, six-speaker CD sound system with auxiliary input and USB jacks.

The XLE adds 17-inch alloy wheels, heated exterior mirrors, chrome garnishments, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an eight-way power driver seat and the six-speaker Display Audio system featuring a 6.1-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth audio streaming.

Option packages -- available only on the XLE -- offer features including a sunroof; a rearview camera; heated driver and passenger seats; four-way power passenger seat; the Display Audio system integrated with a navigation system, HD Radio, satellite radio, voice recognition, Entune integration of smartphone and Web functions; and a premium 10-speaker JBL audio system with all of the Display Audio features integrated with a 7-inch touchscreen hard-drive-based navigation system.

Powertrains and Performance

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Sedan

The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 156 hp and 156 pound-feet of torque. An electric motor furnishes some low-speed propulsion and brings the gas engine to life when it shuts down at stoplights in order to save fuel. Combined, the two power units are good for 200 hp. A continuously variable transmission delivers power to the front wheels. Toyota says the Camry Hybrid will return an estimated 43 city mpg/39 highway mpg and 41 mpg combined.

Safety

The 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid comes with a battery of standard safety features, including antilock brakes with brake assist, stability control, front- and rear-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, and knee airbags for both driver and passenger, the latter new for 2012. A blind-spot monitoring system is also available.

Interior Design and Special Features

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Sedan

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Sedan

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Sedan

Inside the cabin, the revised interior for the Camry feels slightly roomier. Thinner front pillars increase visibility and narrower door panels open up elbow room. Door panel controls also move higher, allowing knees to move more freely. But the most notable improvement has been in interior materials. The previous wave of hard plastic is replaced with soft dash textures, handsome trim and subtle, decorative stitching. The cabin also does a better job of suppressing road and machine noise.

Moving hybrid components from the trunk to under the hood shrinks the battery housing, which in turn frees up additional space in back. The trunk now offers a truly useful 13.1 cubic feet.

The Camry's new upgraded audio system also includes Entune, a suite of smartphone-connected services that includes features like the Bing search engine, Pandora streaming radio, real-time traffic, sports and stock information, and the ability to reserve movie tickets or a table at a restaurant on the go.

Driving Impressions

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE Sedan

We've only briefly driven the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid. But from our initial impressions, it feels notably quicker and more responsive than its predecessor. Thanks to revised suspension tuning, it also feels more planted on the road and less disturbed by bumps. The electric steering is also improved, but there's a slight numbness that we attribute more to the Camry's low-rolling-resistance tires than to any flaw in the steering system.